Adventures in genealogy

Donna’s Picks: Week of January 13, 2008

Here are some posts from genealogy blogs that I really enjoyed this week. If you missed any of these posts, be sure to check these out!

From FamHist, Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews provided some great examples of questions we should ask our relatives. I wish I had asked my grandparents these questions. And I’m sure my nieces and nephews would love to one day read my parents’ answers when they’re no longer here to tell their stories in person. While it’s not exactly the Proust Questionnaire, they will certainly get your relatives talking about their own history! [1/17/08]

From Genea-Musings, read Online Research Strategy for Russell Smith. We all have an ancestor like Russell Smith that’s still avoiding being found, and Randy offers a very systematic and methodical approach to using some of the best online sources. I’ve used most of these myself, but without writing it down in this way who knows what I missed? Try these thirty-six-plus resources the next time you search for ancestors online. [1/15/08]

100 Years in America posted Snapshots of the World Back in 1908. Lisa posed the challenge to other bloggers: Where was your family in 1908? Twenty-one bloggers responded and wrote about their families and the world in which they lived one hundred years ago. Read this round-up for links to some intriguing posts. [1/13/08]

At Tracing the Tribe, Schelly writes about Helene Berr: France’s Anne Frank. Helene Berr wrote a journal describing life as a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Paris. She died in Bergen-Belsen in 1945, and her account speaks of both the horrors and the hopes of the time. I’m looking forward to the English translation – thanks to Schelly for alerting us all to this worthy read. [1/14/08]

And now for something completely different… The Genealogue has returned! Chris gives us the Top Ten Worst Ways to Begin a Family History. Don’t try this at home, kids, but do take the time to read this hilarious parody. [1/16/08]

This concludes this week’s edition of “Donna’s Picks” – I hope you’ll like them too.